CSEE 3827: Fundamentals of Computer Systems

Announcements

2/1: If you prefer, you may turn in your homeworks electronically via courseworks.

1/11: First class meeting on Wednesday 1/20 Havemeyer 209.

Course Information

Description: The purpose of this course is to examine how the digital
1s and 0s that are the foundation of digital computing are organized,
structured, and manipulated to become a full-fledged computer system. In
bridging this gap, the course will cover many subjects beginning with binary
logic, combinatorial and sequential circuit design, memory structures,
instruction set architectures, and, ultimately, basic processor design.

Computer Organization and Design, The Hardware/Software Interface, 4th
ed, by David A. Patterson and John L. Hennessy (ISBN: 978-0123744937)

NB: We will not take any homework problems directly out of the text, so if
have access to third editions of the texts, they will do fine. The chapter
and section numbering is unlikely to match the syllabus below, but if you
are willing to sort out the substance you should be just fine with third editions.

Grading Formula:

Homeworks (40%)

Midterm exam (30%)

Final exam (30%)

Homeworks: There will be six homeworks over the course of the
semester.

Homeworks are due at the start of class on their due date. We will not
accept late submissions. If you cannot attend class, you can slip them under
Prof. Kim's office door (CSB 469) ahead of time.

We will drop everyone's lowest homework grade when calculating final grades

You are free to discuss homework problems with your classmates. However
each student is to write up his or her own solution and is expected to be able
to explain and reproduce the work she or she submits.

Note the names of your collaborators at the top of your homework submission.

Finally, please help us out and staple all multipage assignments before
handing them in.

Academic Honesty: The computer science department has a very clear
acadmic honesty policy,
stated here,
which applies to this course and will be enforced.

Syllabus and Handouts

Adjustments to this schedule will likely be necessary, so listen for
announcements and return to this page for the up-to-date schedule.